Greek Traditions Community

Is anyone fasting for Lent this year? Just curious 😊

1 - 8 of 8 Posts
greek_ggirl

greek_ggirl

Active member
I am wondering who on this forum is fasting for lent this year! Sometimes I struggle to fast because my friends are always going out to restaurants where there aren't many veggie options and its so difficult but I try my best to eat Lenten food as much as possible. Please let me know in the comments below! I look forward to hearing your experiences and perhaps some of your favorite Lenten recipes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Stefan, Hash and greggd12
I will be fasting on and off! I have some health issues so I am unable to fast every single day
 
  • Like
Reactions: John Stefan and Hash
Of course we are. Kathera Deftera (Clean Monday) is Monday 7th March. Nistea (fasting) nowadays is not that difficult. It is vegan diet with fish allowed. Think of Nistea as a clean out of toxins in your body. If you really cannot manage the 40 days - Wednesdays, Fridays and Megali evthomada (Holy Week). Fish is eaten on 25th March - Evangellismo and 23rd April - Vayou (Palm Sunday).
Do as much as you can. You will feel better for it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xmelissaa and John Stefan
Of course if you have health issues, you are forgiven from Nistea.
 
  • Like
Reactions: xmelissaa and John Stefan
greek_ggirl said:
I am wondering who on this forum is fasting for lent this year! Sometimes I struggle to fast because my friends are always going out to restaurants where there aren't many veggie options and its so difficult but I try my best to eat Lenten food as much as possible. Please let me know in the comments below! I look forward to hearing your experiences and perhaps some of your favorite Lenten recipes.
Click to expand...
Used to love this period of the year very much.... terrific vegetarian food..
 
  • Like
Reactions: xmelissaa and John Stefan
It is a really great period to cleanse your body
 
  • Like
Reactions: francescool and Hash
We will attempt to. We usually mess up...
 
  • Like
Reactions: francescool
I fast on and off. Towards the beginning, I try to just get more consistent with fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays. I gradually increase my days as lent progresses. I typically fast during all of Holy Week.
 
1 - 8 of 8 Posts
You must log in or register to reply here.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION AND READ OTHER GREEK INFO:

Greek Wedding Traditions Roundup

I am helping someone plan her Greek wedding. I wanted to make a list of all the traditions we need to keep in time for the big day. Did I miss anything?

The Stolisma

The wedding day begins with the ritual of 'Stolisma,' where the bride and groom are prepared separately by their families. It's a moment filled with emotion, songs, and blessings, setting the tone for the day. I had honestly never heard of this. Do people still do it?

The Krevati

An amusing tradition is the 'Krevati' (bed making), where family and friends gather to decorate the couple's future bed with baby items, symbolizing fertility and a happy family life. Money is also often thrown on the bed for good luck and prosperity.

The Crowning (Stefana)

One of the most iconic rituals during the ceremony is the exchange of crowns or 'Stefana.' I believe they need to buy the crowns they want in advance?

Koufeta

No Greek wedding would be complete without 'Koufeta'—sugar-coated almonds given to guests as wedding favors. These bittersweet treats represent the ups and downs of married life and are shared in odd numbers to symbolize indivisibility and shared life.

Ideas for Celebrating the New Month - Kalo Mina

Growing up, I heard my family say this all the time when there was a new month. I finally started paying attention to the tradition and ritual of saying it.

Kalo Mina actually means "Good Month" but my family took it a step further. We developed the habit of doing something special as a family to celebrate.It depends which day it falls. Some things we've done:

- Brunch - We do this if it falls on a weekend.
- Dinner - Going out to dinner is great any time of the year!
- Journaling - We've done family journaling parties, sitting together reflecting on the month. Sometimes we read aloud what we write (depends how the month went LOL)
- Goals - No matter if we do anything, like go out to dinner or brunch, we always sit and review our goals for the month together.

List of Cretan Dances?

I will be attending a Cretan wedding and am curious about the traditional Cretan dances! I know the dances are slightly different and I want to learn some. I don't know the names of the dances so that I can look them up. I did some research, though. Are any of these dances common at these weddings?
  • Pentozali
  • Sousta
  • Siganos
  • Chaniotis
There's a dance the wedding party typically does in Crete. Which dance is that?

Learning about hospitality in Greece

I was trying to explain to some non-Greek friends about hospitality in Greece. I feel like it's next level, but how do you explain it?

Could anyone help me explain any of the following:
  • Traditional welcome gestures in Greece
  • Common household customs when visiting a Greek home
  • Etiquette for showing appreciation to Greek hosts
  • Any specific do's and don'ts that a foreigner should be aware of

Thinking about the Greek way of hospitality...

I thought I would ask your thoughts oh Philoxenia - or the Greek way, or art, of hospitality. I noticed this when I travel in Greece. People are so kind, they often go out of the way for us, when I feel that they don't have to! How can one describe this to someone?

From what I understand, Philoxenia is not merely a practice but a deeply ingrained value within Greek culture that extends far beyond the simple act of hosting. It reflects a genuine, heartfelt welcome to strangers, treating them with the same respect and generosity one would show to a dearly beloved friend. This beautiful tradition, passed down through generations, turns the act of hosting into an art form, embodying warmth, respect, and a profound sense of human compassion. There have been so many stories I can think of...

This thought process was triggered because we were watching My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 - someone in the village had taken on a Syrian refugee. Is this a Greek hospitality thing? Philoxenia?
Share and discuss Greek traditions related to Greek weddings, christenings, dance & holidays!

WorldwideGreeks.com is a free online forum community where people can discuss Greek food, travel, traditions, history and mythology.
Join Worldwide Greeks here!

JOIN COMMUNITY FOR FREE

LOGIN TO YOUR ACCOUNT
Back
Top